Citation

Sturge-Apple ML, Davies PT, Cicchetti D, Manning LG. Partner Abuse 2010; 1(1): 45-60.

Affiliation

University of Rochester.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Springer Publishing)

DOI

10.1891/1946&U8211;6560.1.1.45

PMID

20657797

PMCID

PMC2907110

Abstract

This paper examined maternal parenting behaviors as mediators of associations between interparental violence and young children's internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. Participants included 201 toddlers and their mothers. Assessments of interparental violence and children's symptoms were derived from maternal surveys. Maternal parenting behaviors were assessed during an observational paradigm and coded for hostility, responsiveness and disengagement. Results indicated that mother's responsiveness and disengagement mediated associations between interparental violence and children's internalizing (e.g., withdrawn, inhibited, anxious, depressed behaviors) and externalizing (e.g., aggressive behaviors, attentional difficulties) symptoms. The results are interpreted in the context of conceptualizations that underscore how different dimensions of maternal parenting behaviors may play key explanatory roles in understanding associations between interparental violence and children's adjustment difficulties.

Language: en